Albany Community Land Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN ALBANY, NEW YORK.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- -16.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 46%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $8,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $298,042 spent. ACLT ACQUIRES AND REHABILITATES VACANT BUILDINGS IN THE LOW-INCOME ALBANY NEIGHBORHOODS OF WEST HILL, ARBOR HILL AND THE SOUTH END. ACLT USES LOANS AND GRANT RESOURCES TO BRING THE PROPERTIES BACK TO PRODUCTIVE USE AND CONTINUES TO OWN AND MANAGE THESE PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL PROPERTIES. IN 2024, 57 FAMILIES WERE HELPED FROM THIS PROGRAM.
- $576,433 spent. ACLT'S HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM INVOLVES THE ACQUISITION AND RENOVATION OF A HOME BEFORE SELLING IT TO THE HOMEBUYER. ACLT USES FINANCING AND SUBSIDIES FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES TO COMPLETE THE REHABILITATION. ACLT RETAINS TITLE TO THE LAND UNDER LAND TRUST PROVISIONS. THE LAND IS THEN LEASED TO THE HOMEBUYER FOR A NOMINAL AMOUNT. ANY FUTURE SALE OF THE RESIDENCE MUST BE TO ANOTHER QUALIFIED HOMEOWNER OR ACLT RETAINS THE RIGHT TO RE-ACQUIRE THE BUILDING AT A PURCHASE PRICE SPECIFIED IN THE LAND LEASE AGREEMENT. THIS ENSURES THAT THE RESIDENCE WILL BE OWNED BY AN APPROVED FAMILY THAT WOULD HAVE MET THE ORIGINALLY DESIGNATED CRITERIA FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP AS DESIGNATED UNDER THE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY ACLT. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, 48 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN HELPED BY THIS PROGRAM.
- $440,242 spent. THE ALBANY COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IS A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT IN THE NYS DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE'S PROJECT RISE (RESPOND, INVEST, SUSTAIN, EMPOWER) PROGRAM. DCJS PROVIDED $500,000 IN AN 12 MONTH CONTRACT (STARTING JULY 2024) TO ACLT TO SUPPORT COMMUNITYBASED INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE. DCJS APPROVED PASS THROUGH GRANTS TO 3 SUBGRANTEES FOR A TOTAL OF $210,000, AND ACLT RETAINED $290,000 FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS SUCH AS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PEER MENTORING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.